Wire-fence machine



(No Model.) 3Sheets-Sheet 1. 0. E. WARNER. WIRE FENCE MAOEINE.

Patented Nov. 23, 1897 C/ZaTZaSE Jhfoygeygnunms mans ca.vnomumo.,wnnmsmu D c (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

0. E. WARNER. WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

Patented Nov. 23, 1897.

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0. B. WARNER. WIRE FENGB MACHINE.

No. 594,128. Patented Nov. '23, 1897.

' jaws have come together.

UNITED I STAT Es PATENT- OFFIC CHARLES E. WARNER, OF WAVERLY, KANSAS.

WlRE-FENQE MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,128, dated November23, 1897. Application filed November 80, 1896. Serial No. 614,016. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. WARNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Waverly, in the countyof Coffey and State of Kansas, haveinvented a new and useful Wire- Fence Machine, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to wire-fence machines designed for applyingcross-wires to longitudinal wires and forming meshes therewith.

'The purpose of the improvement is to secure a substantial lock-joint atthe points of crossing of the stay and longitudinal wires, whereby theshape of the fence will be preserved under all conditions and which willadmit of the fence being quickly and economically constructed andrequire a simple mechanism as compared with machines of this type wherethe cross or filling wires are twisted with or about the longitudinalwires.

An essential feature of the invention consists of looping thelongitudinal wires at required intervals in their length, causing theends of the loops to pass by each other, threading the cross-wiresthrough the loops, and subsequently drawing the longitudinal wires tostraighten the loops and causing the interlocking between the cross andlongitudinal wires.

Another feature of importance is the peculiar formation of the jaws incombination with a looper for taking up the slack produced in thelongitudinal wires by the closing of the jaws, whereby the loops areformed, and in the provision of a passage between the meeting faces ofthe jaws for directing the cross-wire through the loops after theCooperating with the interlocking mechanism are twisters for wrappingthe loose ends of the cross-wires around the edge cables, therebycompleting the operation of securing a stay or filling wire in properposition.

In its general construction the machine comprises a tension device forthe cross and longitudinal wires, a looping mechanism, means forthreading the cross or filling wires through the loops, a feeder foradvancing the fence and stretching the loops, twisters for binding theends of the filling-wires about the edge or side cables, a roller ofgiven size for measuring the length of completed fencing, a roller forbundling the fencing after it has been completed and measured, andsuitable mechanism for actuating the cooperating parts, all as willappear more fullyhereinafter, reference being had to the followingdescription and the accompanying drawings, in which corresponding andlike parts are designated by the same reference-characters.

For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the inventionreference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and the followingdescription.

The improvement is susceptible of various changesin the form,proportion,and the minor details of construction without departing from theprinciple or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof,'and to a fulldisclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of awire-fence machine especially designed for attainingthe objects of thisinvention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail viewshowing the first step in the formation of a loop. Fig. 4 is a detailview showing a loop complete and a cross wire passed therethrough. Fig.5 shows a loop and a crosswire prior'to forming the lock-joint bydrawing the loop. Fig. 6 is a detail viewshowing the lock-joint afterthe loop has been closed. Fig. 7 is a transverse section on the line X Xof Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 8 is a rear iewof the jaw which has imparted thereto a vertical movement andillustrating the base which cooperates therewith. Fig. 9 is a detailview of the means for threading the cross-wires through the loops. Fig.10 is a detail view of the wire-cutting mechanism. Fig. 11 is a detailview of a tubular spindle carrying a wiretwi'ster, showing thecoil-spring in which power is stored for operating the twister when thelatter is released. Fig. 12 is a detail view showing the means foractuating the looper and the horizontally-movable jaw. Fig. 13 is adetail View showing the actuating mechanism for the upper portion of thetwo-part jaw.

The framework for supporting the operating parts of the machine may beof suitable construction, and, as shown, comprises longitudinal beams 1,uprights 2, and cross-timbers 3, which are connected together in anysubstantial manner. A transverse shaft 4, journaled in bearings appliedto the lower side beams, is provided at one end with a band-pulley 5, bymeans of which power is transmitted to the machine from a suitable motorby means of a drive-belt. A pinion 6 is secured to the shaft 4:intermediate of its ends and meshes with a gear-wheel 7,1nounted upon ashaft 8 parallel with the shaft 4 and journaled in bearings applied tothe upper longitudinal beams. A shaft 9, parallel with the shafts 4 andS and journaled in bearings provided on the upper longitudinal beams,has a pinion 10, which is in mesh with the gear-wheel 7 and is providedat its ends with bevel gear-wheels 11, which mesh with companionbevel-pinions 12, secured to hollow shafts 13, mounted in bearings 14.,secured to the upper longitudinal beams nearly opposite the shaft 9.Tubular spindles 15 are mounted at one end in the hollow shafts 13 andat their opposite end in bearings 16, secured to the ends of a jaw 17,and collars 18 are secured thereto intermediate of their ends to formpositive means of connection therewith of coil-springs 19,which aremounted upon the tubular spindles and have one end secured to thebevel-pinions 12 and their opposite end to the collars 18. These tubularspindles are located at the sides of the machine and extend parallelwith the upper longitudinal beams and are provided at their inner orrear ends with wire-twisters 20, which are disks having a radial slot 21in their rear faces communicating with a diametrical passage 22, formedin the body of the disks intermediate of their faces. As explained morefully hereinafter, the tubular spindles receive a longitudinal movementdue to the opening and closing of the jaws in the formation of theloops. Hence they are adapted to rotate and move longitudinally in thehollow shafts. Then the jaws are closed, the tubular spindles are heldagainst rotation by cooperating stops 23 and 23, and during this timethe cross-wire is threaded through the loops and the hollow shafts 13are rotated and store power in the coil-springs 19, and when the jawsopen the stops 23 are disengaged and the coil-springs 19 being liberatedregain themselves and rotate the tubular spindles and twist the ends ofthe cross-wire about the longitudinal or side cables, the cross-wireescaping from the twisters 20 through the radial slots 21.

The jaw 17 receives a reciprocating movement lengthwise of the machineand is operated by means of a cam 24, secured upon the shaft 8, and acompanion jaw 25 is mounted so as to receive a vertical reciprocatingmovement and is operated from the shaft 8 by means of a cam 26, mountedthereon, and this jaw 25 is composed of complementary parts, the lowerpart or base 27 having sockets 28 at intervals in its length to receivecorresponding projections 29 of the upper part, one wall of the socketsand projections being inclined, so that as the parts of the jaw cometogether the longitudinal wires will be moved laterally and caused tocome beneath the projections 30, this action being brought about by theinclined edges of the projections 29 engaging with the said longitudinalwires. This operation is essential, as the projections 30 and 31 do notaline longitudinally and pass by each other as the jaws come together tothe proper formation of the loop, as most clearly indicated in Figs. 4cand 7. In order to admit of the jaws coming together, as indicated inFig. 4, they will be provided in their meeting faces with recesses ordepressions to receive the projections 30 and 31, as will be readilyunderstood. The projections 30 and 31 are of quadrantal shape and aregrooved in their arcuate edges, so as to retain the longitudinal wires32 in proper position during the formation of the loops. Thelongitudinal wires pass beneath the jaw 17 and between the complementaryparts of the jaw 25 and in the operation of the machine are loopedbetween the jaws, the loops being formed simultaneously with the closingof the jaws, the portion of the wires between the said jaws beingdeflected to form the loops as the space between them diminishes.

The looper 33 is a plate extending parallel with the jaws and adapted tomove vertically between them and is actuated from one of the cams on theshaft 8 by means of suitable connections, so as to be projected betweenthe jaws as the latter are closing and be withdrawn from between themjust prior to their final closing, so as to admit of the jaw 17 passingby it, as indicated in Fig. 4.

The feeding mechanism for straightening the loops and advancing thecompleted fence after each cross or filling wire has been placed inposition consists of slide-rods 34, mounted in bearings 35, attached tothe upper longitudinal beams, a cross-head 36, secured to theslide-rods, and spring-actuated dogs 37, pivoted to the cross-head 36.This feed mechanism is actuated from the shaft 8 by means of arms 38,secured to the ends of the said shaft, and bars 39, having pivotalconnection with the cross -head 36 and provided near their front endswith shoulders 40 to be engaged by the arms 38 as the latter arerotated, the feeding mechanism being operated during a quarter of arevolution of the shaft 8. The front ends of the bars 39 project infront of the shoulders 40 a sufficient distance to be engaged by thearms 38 as the latter rise to a vertical position prior to makingpositive engagement with the shoulders 40. Springs 41 serve to returnthe cross-head to a normal position after the bars 39 have beendisengaged from the arms 38. The dogs 37 engage with the cross orfillingwires &2 when drawing the fence forward, and when the feeding mechanismis returning to a normal position the said dogs turn upon their pivotalconnection with the cross-head, so as to clear the.

cross-wire with which they are to engage. The bars 39 are strengthenedand braced between their ends by a cross-rod 43.

A measuringroller 44 is located at therear end of the machine and is ofdefinite circumferential length, so as to determine the length of fencemanufactured, and a suitable mechanism (not shown) will be connectedtherewith for registering the number of revolutions and thereby keepingtally of the length of fence turned out. Inasmuch as the measurement isdetermined in rods the roller 44 will be half a rod in circumferentiallength, and each two complete revolutions thereof will indicate a rod offencing. This measuringroller is operated solely by frictionalengagement therewith of the completed fencing as the latter passesthereover.

A drum or spool 45 is located at the front end of the machine, and thecompleted fencing is wound thereon, said drum having heads to cause thefence to wind true thereon. A band-pulley 46 is provided on'an end ofthe shaft supporting the drum 45, and motion is imparted thereto from aband-pulley 48 on the shaft 4 by means of a belt 47.

Each longitudinal wire 32 has a tension de-- vice 49, which is locatedat the front end of the machine, so that in the formation of the fencethe loops will be drawn with equal strain, thereby resulting in a fenceof uniform appearance and having lock-joints of like size, whereby thestrain on all parts of the fence will be alike and buckling, warping,and twisting obviated when the fence is unrolled prior to attaching itto the fenceposts. The several tension devices are connected in series,and each consists of a plate bearing a series of rollers set staggeringand provided with means (not shown) for increasing the resistance totheir rotation, whereby the tension may be varied at will.

The wire 50, forming the cross or filling wires, is threaded through theloops by a feeding mechanism located at one side of the machine, andwhich comprises companion feedrollers 51, grooved in their periphery andhaving their shafts 52 connected by'spur-gearing 53,whereby each rolleris positively operated. A counter-shaft 54, driven from the shaft 4 byintermeshing gearing or in any of the usual ways, is provided with asprocket-pinion 55, and motion is transmitted therefrom by means of asprocket-chain 56, passing around a sprocket-wheel 57, secured upon oneof the shafts 52. The upper shaft is adapted to tilt to separate thefeed-rollers 51, so as to check the feed after a proper length of thewire 50 has been fed across the machine to form a cross or filling wire.A lever 58, fulcrumed between its ends,is provided at its rear end witha cutter to sever the cross-wire from the main wire after a properlength of the latter has been fed to the machine, and this lever isconstructed to engage with a lever 67, passing beneath the upper shaft52 and is adapted to be engaged by a cam 60 on the shaft 8 for operatingthe lever at the proper time. A straightening device 61 is used inconjunction with the feeding mechanism for straightening the. wire 50prior to the threading of the latter through the loops, and consists ofa series of rollers or pins set staggering and so related as to attainthe desired result.

The machine is at all times under the control of the operator and may bethrown into and out of gear by means of a hand-lever 62, which forconvenience is located at one'side of the machine within convenientreach of the feeding mechanism, and this lever is connected by means ofa bar 63 with a shipperlever 64 at the opposite side of the machine forthrowing the band-wheel 5 into and out of gear with the shaft 4, theusual clutch mechanism being provided for attaining this end. Theoperation of the machine will be readily comprehended from the foregoingdetailed description, and in order to remove any doubt on this score thefollowing brief description is submitted. The longitudinal Wires 32 be-"ing threaded through the tension devices 49 and passed beneath the jaw17 and between the complementary parts of the jaw 25 are engaged withthe drum or spool 45, and the machine being started the jaw 17 advancestoward the jaw 25 and the latter moves vertically to throw theprojections 30 and 31 out of line, and as the jaw 17 is closing towardthe jaw 25 the looper 33 is projected between the jaws to take up theslack in the longitudinal wires and form the loops, and just prior tothe closing of the jaws the looper 33 is withdrawn from between them,and, the jaws closing, the projections 30 and 31 pass by each other andcomplete the loops, as clearly indicated in Fig. 4. At this instant thewire 50 is threaded through the loops 65 by means of the feedingmechanism herein described, the said wire being directed through theloops by means of a passage formed by semicircular grooves 66 in themeeting faces of the jaws, and which grooves in the jaws when closedform a circular passage for the wire, as clearly indicated. After thewire 50 is fed a proper distance, so as to form a cross or filling wire42, the lever 58 is operated and checks the feed of the wire 50 andsevers the length thereof fed to the machine. The cross-head 36 is nowmoved and the longitudinal wires drawn forward, thereby stretching theloops and forming the lock-joint shown most clearly in Fig. 6. While thejaws are closing, the hollow shafts 13 are rotating and storing power inthe coil-springs 19, and as the jaws open the cooperating stops 23 and23tb6001116 disengaged and the power stored in the coilsprings 19 isexpended in rotating the tubular spindles and the wire-twistersconnected therewith, so as to twist the end portions of the cross orfilling wires around the longitudinal side or edge cables, which latterpass through the said tubular spindles.

The stops 23 are adjustable on the spindles 15 and consist of collarshaving projecting parts, and the stops 23 are brackets attached to theframework and extending longitudinally thereof, so as to be engaged bythe stops 23 to hold the spindles from turning until the longitudinaland filling wires have become interlocked.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In awire-fence machine, the combination of jaws having inwardly-extendingproj ections to pass by each other, means for closing the jaws, and alooper for deflecting the longitudinal wires during the closing of thejaws, substantially as set forth.

2. In a fence-machine, the combination of jaws having quadrantal-shapedprojections grooved in their arcuate faces, means for closing the jawsand causing the projections to pass by each other, and a looper fordeflecting the longitudinal wires as the jaws are closing, substantiallyas set forth.

3. In a fence-machine, the combination of jaws having companion groovesin their meeting faces which unitedly form a passage, means for closingthe jaws and looping the wires between them, and a feeding mechanism forthreading a cross or filling wire through the loops, substantially inthe manner set forth for the purpose described.

4. In a fence-machine, the combination of cooperating jaws havingprojections at their inner faces, one of the jaws comprising upper andlower parts, the upper part carrying the inner projections, inclinedprojections between the parts for moving the longitudinal wireslaterally and beneath the inner projections on the said upper part asthe jaws close, and means for advancing and withdrawing the other jawfrom the two-part jaw, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a fence-machine, the combination of cooperating jaws having innerprojections on their meeting faces, one of the jaws comprising an upperand a lower part, projections between the complementary parts of the jawhaving an inclined edge to cause a lateral movement of the longitudinalwires as the parts of the jaw come together, and means for moving theother jaw toward and from the two-part jaw, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

6. In a fence-machine, the combination of a movable jaw, a tubularspindle provided with a wire-twister and movable with the said jaw, acoil-sprin g having connection with the tubular spindle, means forstoring power in the coil-spring, which power when expended actuates thewire-twister, and cooperating stops to hold the tubular spindle againstrotation during the operation of storing power in the coil-spring,substantially as set forth.

7. In a wire-fence machine, the combination of a movable jaw, atubularspindle movable with the jaw and bearing a wire-twister, a hollow shaftmounted upon the tubular spindle, a coil-spring mounted upon the tubularspindle and having connection therewith and with the hollow shaft, meansfor rotating the hollow shaft to store power in the coil-spring, andcooperating stops to hold the tubular spindle against rotation duringthe storing of power in the said coil-spring, substantially as set forthfor the purpose described.

8. In a wire-fence machine, the combination of cooperating jaws, meansfor impart ing a reciprocating movement to one of the jaws, tubularspindles located at the ends of the movable jaw and adapted toreciprocate therewith and provided with wire-twisters, hollow shaftshaving the tubular spindles operating therein, coil-springs placed uponthe tubular spindles and secured thereto at one end and to the hollowshafts at their opposite end, cooperating stops for holding the tubularspindles against rotation during the closing of the jaws, and means forrotating the hollow shafts for storing power in the coilsprings,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a wire-fence machine, the combination of mechanism for looping thelongitudinal wires, a feeding mechanism for threading the cross orfilling wires through the loops, comprising. companion feed-rollers,andv a lever bearing a cutter for severing the length of wire when fedto the machine and at the same time throwing the feeding mechanism outof operation, substantially as set forth.

10. In a wire-fence machine, the combination with the mechanism foreffecting an interlocking of the cross or filling wires with thelongitudinal wires, of a mechanism for advancing the completed fence,consisting of a cross-head, a series of spring-actuated dogs havingpivotal connection with the crosshead, and actuating mechanism for thecrosshead, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In a wire-fence machine, the combination with the mechanism forproducing an interlocking of the cross or filling wires with thelongitudinal wires, of a feeding mechanism for advancing the completedfence, consisting of a cross-head, dogs carried thereby, bars havingpivotal connection with the cross-head and extending forwardly andhaving shoulders a short distance from their front ends, and armsattached to a rotatable shaft to engage with the shoulders of the saidbars, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. A wire-fence machine, comprising in its organization the followinginstrumentalities: cooperating jaws having inner projections andcompanion grooves in their meeting faces, means for moving one of thejaws vertically and the other jaw toward and from the first-mentionedjaw, a looper for deflecting the longitudinal wires between the jaws asthe latter are closing, a feeding mechanism for threading a filling-wirethrough the loops, a lever bearing a cutter for severing thefilling-wire and at the same time throwing its feeding mechanism out ofoperation, tension devices for the longitudinal wires, a feedingmechanism for drawing the completed fence through the machine and at thesame time straightening the loops and producing an interlocking of thelongitudinal and filling wires, wire-twisters for wrapping the ends ofthe filling-wires about the side cables, a measuring-roller fordetermining the length of completed fence, and a drum for winding up thecompleted fencing into a roll, substantially in the manner set forth.

13. Ina fence-machine, the combination of independent coacting jaws, alooper for de- CHARLES E. WARNER.

Witnesses:

G. W. DAVIS, T. W. MOFADDEN.

